How to Help Fight Climate Change

Over a long period of time, climate change will  make sea levels rise and fragile ecosystems diminish. Many  organizations  work to help climate change and one of them is in Brewster. Brewster Conservation Trust is a local organization that helps the environment. Jon Bruce, land stewardship coordinator, spoke with me about climate change and how we can help. 

Climate change is the change of climate over a long period of time. Bruce said, “To understand climate change you first need to know the difference between climate and weather and what the atmosphere is. Weather is the day-to-day happenings, like how it snowed last night or how it was sunny the other day—while climate is general weather over much longer periods of time.” 

When the regular weather changes in an area, it is called climate change. Life can exist on our planet because of a layer of gasses that surrounds that earth called the atmosphere.  The atmosphere absorbs light from the sun and creates a blanket that keeps earth warm; we call this the greenhouse effect.

Bruce explains, “Climate change as we talk about it today refers to the increase in average temperatures around the globe due to human activity. Things like driving a car, flying in airplanes, making cement, and even farming, all release what we call ‘Greenhouse Gases’. These Greenhouse Gases rise, like CO2 (carbon dioxide), act like extra layers of blankets and trap more heat within the atmosphere. The more blankets added, the more heat gets trapped.”

Locally, climate change will result in sea-level rise, hotter weather, more frequent storms, and getting less snow and more rain. We are adding the layers faster than they can be removed but layers can be removed by plants (through photosynthesis) and the ocean (acting as an air filter). NASA has great resources to learn more: https://climatekids.nasa.gov/ 

How to reduce your affect on climate change

It is important to educate yourself and others around you about climate change. As Bruce says, “The most important thing to know is that there is hope in addressing climate change. Climate change and its effects will be broad and far-reaching, but as large of an issue it is, we can solve it.” Here’s what you can do:

• Eat less meat and dairy. You don’t have to give it up–just eat less of it.
• Carpool with people or ride your bike more often.
• Plant trees, bushes, flowers, and other types of greenery in your yard.
• Use the search engine Ecosia, which plants trees with your searches.
• Reach out to your local Conservation Trust and learn how you can get involved

Climate change is an important topic, but if we just pitch in a little we can make a big difference. So do your part, try to do one of the hacks listed above and you can help stop climate change. I want to give a big thank you to Jon Bruce for contributing to this article. 

For more information, see the Brewster Conservation Trust’s Website: https://brewsterconservationtrust.org/